Published: September 14, 2009 12:35 AM EST
By: Isaac Davis Jr., MBA (Juniorscave.com)
New Music Spotlight September 2009 Edition
Peter Toriello
Peter Toriello
Peter Toriello is giving fans the softer side of Rock music with an acoustical edge and angelic voice that make him a joy to listen to. Toriello's acoustic guitar playing is also one of the best aspects about the artist's music. If you are a fan who enjoys the combination of Rock and Acoustics, then Peter Toriello's music is the perfect choice for you. Here is a recent interview that our Webzine had with the Singer/Songwriter about his musical journey. Enjoy!
Isaac: We'd love to know about your inspirations growing up. I hear so many influences in your music. How old were you when you first discovered music? Is there any kind of musical history in your family?
Peter: I really started to love music when I was in fourth grade. We did a lot of pitch training which I took to on a technical level, while we analyzed the themes of classical music which really brought the music to life. I remember learning about "Pictures at an Exhibition" which is a brilliant way to tie the auditory and visual arts together in a way a child will understand. There was always a love of music in my family but none of my family members were professional musicians.
Isaac: What drew you to pick up an instrument in the first place?
Peter: Funny enough, the first inspiration was asthma which prompted my doctor to recommend a wind instrument (the saxophone). This was right around the time I was really digging into music, so it worked out well enough. I also dabbled on the piano. At the age of 12, I had to switch to something a bit more "cool" so I picked up the guitar.
This was a great way to avoid marching in the cold weather, though I did eventually have to take up drums so I could stay in band year- round. Jazz band was a great creative outlet, and led me to my choice of Berklee College of Music. In high school, we traveled to Boston to perform and compete at a Jazz Festival there at Berklee and I was just floored. It was wonderful to see people that were just immersed in music. I picked up an award while there, which I still think should have been "Award For Excessive Noodling" based on my nervously busy solo on Chicago's "25 or 6 to 4" but I do appreciate that it was called something else.
Isaac: As you hit your teenage years, did you know that this was what you would be doing for the rest of your life?
Peter: After a few years with the guitar, I realized I was driven more by and for it (and music) more than anything else. I was lucky to have very talented friends and we all had very understanding parents who probably invested in the earplug market - unless they secretly and invisibly soundproofed our basements. I enjoyed playing music in any way I could throughout high school and I knew it was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I ended up attending Berklee with one of those talented childhood friends (an amazing drummer named Brian Nolan of American Hi-Fi and Sun Dried Truth) and, though it was very competitive being amongst some of the best music students in the world, I continued to love and pursue my passion.
Isaac: Is there a performer in any genre of pop culture that you would like to work with?
Peter: I desperately want to score a film written, directed by, and starring Steve Buscemi. I've been told I look and sound like him. I am exactly 13 years younger to the day, so I would also like to play a younger version of whatever character he's playing. Sadly, I'm completely serious about every part of this answer.
Isaac: Who are some musicians that you really like, present or past?
Peter: I figured I would just fire up iTunes and sort by play count. It appears that I REALLY like Cake, Letters to Cleo, Queen, American Hi- Fi, Soul Coughing, David Bowie, Pink Floyd (especially David Gilmour), Led Zeppelin, and Dar Williams. I'd expect to think this is completely unscientific, but I really can say I've been influenced by most if not all of the above.
Isaac: What is your ultimate goal with your music career?
Peter: My ultimate goal is to compose and perform pieces that people can relate to, and achieve enough commercial success to enable me to get my daughter on and off the bus every day without worrying about punching a clock instead. I believe it is possible to be successful and make a difference, while also making a difference in one's own life.
Isaac: What has been some of the obstacles it has taken to get this far in your career?
Peter: Fear and thinking too much. I tend to be a perfectionist and have found that any period of great productivity comes when I just "go for it" and don't worry so much about every little detail.
Isaac: Would you recommend this "field" to others who are aspiring to be musicians like you?
Peter: Yes, because I wouldn't want to see someone have a dream they didn't pursue; the world could miss out on something incredibly special.
Isaac: Describe one piece of advice you've have been given to by others in the music industry.
Peter: Be nicest to the gatekeepers. The receptionists, the assistants, anybody who has the ear of the person who has the ear that you want listening to your music.
Isaac: What genre of music do you consider most of your music?
Peter: Rock. Such a broad, yet instantly identifiable genre. I love it.
Isaac: What has been your favorite piece of work?
Peter: My favorite would be "Lost at Sea" and I have a few more complex compositions that I love and would like to record someday. One of my majors in college was Commercial Arranging, so composing pieces more complex than what I typically perform comes naturally. I get to keep these skills honed when composing commissioned pieces for licensing and such.
Isaac: How can fans-to-be gain access to your music? Do you have a website with sample songs or a demo CD?
I run Tiny Toaster so any aspiring artists who need a friendly place to hang their hat can contact me and I'll see what I can do. I've got at least a few spare spots left in my Jamroom license for the site. I am online quite a bit, and fans-to-be can reach me via either of these sites. I will have a CD available for purchase soon and songs from this CD will be posted for streaming.
Isaac: Is there anyone you'd like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Peter: My parents have always been supportive in all ways. The people I've worked with in any "day job" I've had who come out to support my music and those who ask "why are you working here" which serves as the inspiration for pursuing the dream. Also, every fan deserves acknowledgement. If you aren't one, you can sign up as a fan and get more information on my Reverb Nation page http://www.reverbnation.com/petertoriello and know I do truly value every single fan.
Isaac: Any last words?
Peter: That sounds like I'm on the firing line! But seriously... I am happiest when I'm doing something musical and I hope that others find their happy place and their calling. I am proud to see my daughter enjoy music at an early age, but I realize her ambitions probably won't be exactly like mine so I only wish for her to be doing what makes her happy. And I sincerely hope that others can also do what they love to do.
